Ministry didn’t approve slaughter of goats at Sports Hall – Dr. Anthony

Last Updated on Saturday, 26 December 2015, 21:00 by GxMedia

Minister of Culture Youth and Sport Dr. Frank Anthony says his ministry never gave permission to anyone to slaughter animals at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall.

He was responding to questions from APNU MP Christopher Jones during Thursday’s sitting of the National Assembly. The questions pertained to media reports in November that several individuals were slaughtering goats at the national sporting facility which comes under the minister’s mandate.

Those reports were also accompanied by photographs of the individuals with the carcasses but on Thursday Dr. Anthony said he had heard about the reports but had not read them. Asked what action he took on the matter the minister said the persons from whom he enquired about the reports told him that nothing of the sort occurred.

“One of the things I did when I heard about the article is to enquire about what was alleged … and the person that I enquired from they assured me that no goat or goats were slaughtered at … at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall,” the minister said.

Demerara Waves Online News reported a usually reliable source on November 5 last as saying that several goats were slaughtered at the facility, an act which traumatised children who were present  for the National Schools Table Tennis Championships.

The slaughter reportedly occurred around 2.30 PM and the meat was subsequently transported via a vehicle bearing registration number PGG 9139. On Thursday Jones told the House that a check with the Guyana Revenue Authority revealed that the vehicle was registered to the National Sports Commission.

The eyewitness said the Director of Youth and Sports, Neil Kumar and President of the Guyana Table Tennis Association (GTTA) were on the premises at the time the goats were being slaughtered

“While we were at the sports hall for the schools tennis tourney, some people were killing goats in a room. The horrifying sound from the animals while being killed went on for a while. At least three animals were killed,” said the eyewitness who was there with her son.

The mother observed that the slaughter had a negative effect on the children and most parents there.

Sources learnt that the killing of goats there might be a regular activity with the knowledge of the person in charge of the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall.